Certificate of Higher Education: Virtual Learning Environment Report

This report delves into the significance of virtual learning environments (VLEs) in higher education, examining their impact on educational quality and student engagement. The study begins with an introduction to VLEs, tracing their evolution from early televised classes to the sophisticated, interactive platforms of today. It then explores the background of VLEs, highlighting their role as digital spaces that connect teachers and students, offering flexibility and personalized learning experiences. The report outlines the aims and objectives, including understanding the concept of VLEs, determining their importance in enhancing educational quality, and identifying associated challenges. The methodology employed involves a quantitative approach, utilizing both primary and secondary research. Primary data was gathered through questionnaires sent to university professors, while secondary data was collected from literature reviews. The data analysis section presents findings from the questionnaire, revealing insights into the perceptions of educators regarding VLEs. The analysis discusses the advantages of VLEs, such as increased interactivity, flexibility, and course management simplification. However, it also addresses challenges, including potential impacts on student motivation and the affordability of the technology. The report concludes with recommendations for improving the VLE experience, emphasizing the importance of effective teaching methodologies and the incorporation of multimedia content to enhance student engagement. The study underscores the transformative potential of VLEs in higher education while acknowledging the need to address challenges to maximize their effectiveness.

VIRTUAL LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT
1

Contents
Contents....................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................3
BACKGROUND......................................................................................................3
3.0 AIMS & OBJECTIVES....................................................................................5
Aim:..........................................................................................................................5
Objectives.................................................................................................................5
4.0 METHOD...........................................................................................................5
5.0 DATA ANALYSIS..............................................................................................6
Discussion on Primary data....................................................................................6
Discussion on secondary data.................................................................................8
6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION...............................................8
Conclusion................................................................................................................8
Recommendations....................................................................................................8
REFERENCES......................................................................................................10
2

INTRODUCTION
Virtual learning environment is consider as an online based platform
which offer teacher as well as student a digital solution for enhancing their
learning experience by providing with a interactive and active learning
environment (Schuster and et. al., 2016). This concept was begin from year
1953 where the university of Houston offer televised classes, with the
further development of technological ground in year 1973 the Stanford
University offers computer based courses. After the development of world
wide web from year 2010 almost all big institutions world wide started
adopting learning system, as with the increasing use of internet the social
networking sites get developed with the help of which the virtual learning
environment become more collaborative, interactive and conversational.
The rationale behind conducting this research is that it help in
uncovering information about the importance of virtual learning
environment which help in making people aware about the way in which
they can use virtual learning as a tool for enhancing their educational
experience.
BACKGROUND
3

According to Hilli. C., 2018, virtual learning is considered to be a
relatively new method of gaining knowledge in several type of subjects.
The virtual learning environment is sometimes also known as learning
management system which provide a digital space where teacher and
students can connect with one another from several different places
without being physically available at a particular location. The virtual
learning environment is replacing the traditional classroom learning by
enabling the learners an environment to study in appropriate manner with
more flexibility to study, tracking the progress automatically. The virtual
training is considered to be one of the crucial things to be required by
students in today’s world, as with the technological integrated system it
become easier for students to enhance their learning experience by getting
more practical and advanced lectures. This contains huge benefits for a
student as it provides a self-paced learning which in turn allow students to
get an opportunity to learn new skills without being travel so long
(Henritius, Löfström and Hannula, 2019). On the other side it is also
beneficial for teachers, as it provides with a feature where teachers can set
their chapters or training courses for students to complete them all at once
and allow teacher to work remotely when it is needed. Other than this the
blended learning approach can also be used by teachers with eth help of
virtual learning which support teachers in keeping their students more
engaged with the sessions by spending more time working over the
practical tasks and learning theory behind what they are actually
performing.
4

In continuation with this, Clover. I., 2017 stated that web-based
learning or virtual learning is a most commonly used things now a days
within educational industry. In this student can have access to better and
advanced learning by having an access to live lectures, video conferencing,
seminars etc. It allows the students to have access to a broad range of
information for enhancing their knowledge and can track their
performance with the help of handouts, personalise as well as discussion
board communication, mock tests, summative and formative assessments.
These all features allow a student to enhance their learning and knowledge
by having a regular evaluation of their learning.
5

Despite of this there are several challenges that are involved
within virtual learning which affect its actual aim behind the provide web
based learning. Over this, Cuthell, J.P., 2017, stated that virtual learning is
crucial in current educational system as it allow the students to have
advanced learning over their educational criteria and also allow them to
get access to more advanced courses at a time. Other than this it also help
a lot in developing the skills and capability among students to perform
well. But despite of this there are certain challenges that can be seen in
virtual learning such as, lack of motivation, as the flexibility in virtual
learning can create problem for the people who are weak in motivation
and also not self-discipline (Ducange and et. al., 2016). As without actual
presence of tutor and strict deadline may provide student with more
comfortable feel which make it harder for teacher to keep them
concentrated on tehri studies (Pererva and et. al., 2020). Other challenges
for virtual learning is that not all the activities related with learning can be
performed online, as one cannot conduct the chemical experiments or
learn the dentist skills while staying at home. This in turn make certain
courses more theoretical or available only for the traditional learning
system.
6

For effective educational system it is crucial for teachers to take
corrective actions for dealing with challenges present within the virtual
learning system to provide better education experience to students. As per
the information provided by Roger. C., 2020, in order to improve the
virtual learning environment, it is crucial for adopting an effective
teaching methodology. For this the tutors must focus toward adopting that
method of teaching which provide best possible outcome such as either
self-paced or live class that work better among students as it allow them
take more interest and a better engagement from them. Other than this, by
using the online learning tool to structure the content in more logical
sequence. Addition to this it must also focuses toward adding more media
and theatrical content in virtual learning such as presentation, graphics,
audio clips etc. which motivate and encourage interest of students in
educational content, hence enhance the outcome in term of increasing the
performance of students.
3.0 AIMS & OBJECTIVES
Aim:
“To investigate about the role of virtual learning environment for
enhancing educational quality.”
Objectives
To understand about the concept of virtual learning environment
To determine the importance of virtual training for enhancing the educational
quality
To identify challenges that are embedded with virtual learning environment
4.0 METHOD
7

The methodology used by a researcher help in performing the
investigation in more effective and systematic manner which is from
collection of data to analysing and concluding findings. For performing
current study, the quantitative investigation method has been used which
allow in gathering and analysing the numerical data to provide most
accurate outcome. Other than this, current research involves both primary
and secondary research, where primary research was performed by
preparing questionnaire to perform survey which was done with the help
of internet. For gathering primary data, the 20 professors have been taken
as a sample size that were chosen randomly under probability sampling
method. The main aim behind selecting this probability sampling method
was that it helps in avoiding the bias behaviour from researcher side in
selecting respondents (Mohajan, 2018). Here, after preparing
questionnaire it sends via email to several professors from university that
uses virtual learning environment, then the professors who respond to
questionnaire are gathered and then responses of 20 people are selected
randomly which was further analysed to present the outcome of research.
On the other side the secondary research is presented in the form of
literature review where data is gathered from sources like books, articles,
journals, web pages etc. where the view point of several scholars is
critically evaluated to create better understanding about nature of study.
5.0 DATA ANALYSISQuestionnaire
This section involve the analysis of gathered data in the form of primary and secondary
data in order to convert it into more meaningful information to represent actual finding from the
investigation performed. The analysis of data is mentioned below:
Discussion on Primary data
Question Yes No
8

Q1 Does virtual learning is important for students along with the
classroom learning within higher education?
20 0
Q2 According to you, does virtual learning more interactive
learning then class room learning?
12 8
Q3 Do you think that virtual learning environment bring up more
student engagement and also provide flexibility that enhance
their performance?
13 7
Q4 According to you, does virtual learning environment can
simplify the course management for teachers and can track
student performance as well?
15 5
Q5 Does the flexibility feature of virtual learning can affect the
academic motivation and performance of students?
14 6
Q6 Do you think that accessibility to virtual learning
environment is affordable for the user?
9 11
Q7 According to you, does the biggest issue of virtual learning is
lack of self-motivation among students that can affect their
performance a well?
12 8
Q8 Do you think by adding more graphics to e-lectures the
education process can be made easier to understand and keep
students engaged?
18 2
Q9 Does virtual learning characteristics of managing own
learning support students in developing them for future growth?
15 5
Q10 Do you think that absence of nonverbal clues in virtual
class can affect the quality of education?
10 10
Q 11 According to you does teachers must provide with training
to use ICT tool for enhancing quality of virtual learning?
18 2
Q12 As per your perception does the experimental learnings like
engineering, doctor etc. are possible with virtual learning?
0 20
Q13 Does the use of several technology for virtual learning help
in enhancing the quality of education?
19 1
9

Discussion: According to the data gathered above it can be interpret that majority of
respondents are in favour that the virtual learning is very much important within higher
education of students as it allow them to access to more detail and depth of the concepts which
are crucial for their learning. Other than this, around 12 people said that virtual learning provide
more interactive learning session as students can learning things as per their convenience and get
more media-based learning which increase their interest in studies which is not possible in class
room learning. On the other side around 13 respondents said that virtual training provide students
with flexibility of learning where they can use their way of learning with best suited media for
their learning which in turn enhance their performance.
Question Yes No
Q4 According to you, does virtual learning environment can
simplify the course management for teachers and can track
student performance as well?
15 5
Q5 Does the flexibility feature of virtual learning can affect the
academic motivation and performance of students?
14 6
Q6 Do you think that accessibility to virtual learning
environment is affordable for the user?
9 11
10

Discussion: From the above presented graph it can be interpret that virtual learning environment
help in simplifying the course management for teacher by presenting systematic lectures to
students with better understanding and also help in tracking their performance with regular
communication and online tests. Despite of this, majority of teachers present their concern
toward flexibility that virtual learning system provide to students. As majority of respondents
said that virtual learning provide flexibility of anytime anywhere learning which may affect the
motivation of student toward their learning as there concentration can be diverted with physical
environment. Despite of this, more teachers said that virtual learning require more investment to
be done by university for its set up and better technology which doesn’t remain affordable for
everyone. Hence, this remains a major barrier toward the education system within virtual
learning environment.
Questions
Q7 According to you, does the biggest issue of virtual learning is lack of self-motivation among
students that can affect their performance a well?
Q8 Do you think by adding more graphics to e-lectures the education process can be made easier
to understand and keep students engaged?
11

Q9 Does virtual learning characteristics of managing own learning support students in
developing them for future growth?
Q10 As per your perception, does lack of nonverbal cues in virtual learning can affect the
understanding of students?
Q 11 Do you think that, access to virtual leaning environment required more training to teachers
for operating ICT technology effectively?
Q12 As per your perception does the experimental learnings like engineering, doctor etc. are
possible with virtual learning?
Q13 Does the use of several technology for virtual learning help in enhancing the quality
of education?
12